For more than a decade, Rodney Childers stood atop the NASCAR Cup Series. He was one of its most successful crew chiefs, guiding Kevin Harvick to the 2014 championship and collecting 40 career Cup wins along the way. Childers’ reputation as a meticulous strategist placed him in rare company. Only Allan Gustafson and Paul Wolfe approached his level of achievement among active pit bosses. But since stepping away from Stewart-Haas Racing, he had a short stint with Spire Motorsports, but he parted with them after just nine races. Lately, Childers has found himself on the outside looking in. The abrupt shift has left fans and insiders questioning the situation. Can one of NASCAR’s most decorated minds still have a place in the Cup garage? That uncertainty was met with an admission from Childers himself recently.

Childers’ split with Spire was framed as a mutual decision. However, he later admitted, “it just started falling apart”. The No. 7 team managed only one top-10 finish with Justin Haley during his brief tenure. By April, both sides had decided to move on. For Childers, however, walking away has been anything but easy. He has consistently said he still measures himself by wins, poles, and milestones. Most notable has been his drive to surpass 700 Cup starts and reach the 50-win plateau. That lingering hunger explains why his recent remarks on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast carried such weight.

“I still miss it”: Childers on eyeing a new NASCAR chapter

On Harvick’s podcast, the 48-year-old crew chief offered a candid look at the turmoil of life away from the pit box. “On April 22nd, I knew the next few months would be a big learning curve,” Childers confessed. He noted the wave of emotions that came with uncertainty. “For some reason, it’s been hard to just say I’m done. By no means am I finished. I still miss it, especially the competitive part.” Those words revealed the devastation of a competitor who suddenly finds himself without a team.

Harvick pressed him on whether he had been in talks with Cup teams. But Childers admitted opportunities have been scarce. “It’s been really tough. Some things happening in the Cup garage are making it even harder for me right now,” he said. That difficulty is compounded by NASCAR’s calendar. Most teams lock in their crew chief situations from mid-August through year’s end. Still, Childers hinted that some organizations are not “doing things the right way” and may eventually need to make changes. It was a pointed observation from someone who has watched the garage evolve from both inside and outside. It suggested he still believes his expertise could tip the balance for a struggling team.

Even as the Cup landscape appears clogged, other doors may be opening. Childers revealed, “Over the past month, the truck garage has actually been the most supportive. I never expected that two months ago. It was pretty quiet, but now suddenly there’s a lot of interest there.” The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has long been a place for both rising stars and veterans to find opportunity. Needless to say, Childers’ name instantly carries weight. That path could be a stepping stone back to Cup or a new chapter entirely. His acknowledgment of that interest adds another wrinkle to his comeback plans.

For Childers, the future remains unresolved, but the stakes are clear. While he is chasing legacy rather than validation, the weight of his achievements highlights why his plea for another opportunity has drawn attention. Even veteran voices in the garage are taking notice. Mark Martin recently lauded Childers on social media for the same. That endorsement highlights both the respect he commands and the potential impact his return could have.

Mark Martin lauds Childers’ plea for a chance

Rodney Childers’ comments about teams being unwilling to take a chance in the Cup Series have not gone unnoticed. His words sparked conversations within the garage, but it was a Hall of Famer’s endorsement that turned heads.

Pouring his feelings, he had tweeted, “I miss competing, yes every single day. I miss being a leader like I was good at. I know I can still do it better than most, and I’m more determined now than ever.. But if no one is willing to take a chance in the cup garage, I’ll win in whatever I do…He has a plan.”

Mark Martin responded to this directly, resharing Childers’ message and calling him “one of the best to ever do it.” Coming from a driver whose career was built on resilience and consistency, the statement carried weight. Martin’s backing showed how respected Childers remains as a crew chief, even as opportunities in the NASCAR garage appear limited.

The exchange also highlighted the ongoing disconnect between proven talent and the risk-averse nature of current Cup teams. Martin’s words served as a reminder that NASCAR’s landscape has often overlooked experience in favor of fresh faces or cost-effective options. Surprisingly, this is even when championship-winning leadership is available.

By openly siding with Childers, Martin reignited debate about whether the sport is doing enough to retain its seasoned minds. As the 2026 NASCAR season approaches, Childers remains hopeful for a return to NASCAR. With Martin’s endorsement and potential interest from teams like Kaulig Racing, Childers’ path forward may soon become clearer, offering him another opportunity to showcase his expertise at the highest level of competition.